The mission of the Music Education program is to prepare outstanding music educators for lifelong careers inspiring today’s youth. Our undergraduate program provides a core of knowledge and skills, enhanced by applied learning experiences that ready our graduates for contemporary and current educational practices. Our faculty members are cutting-edge teacher/scholars with national certifications in Orff Schulwerk and Kodaly. They are active scholars and researchers, particularly in the areas of instrumental music, jazz education, choral music, Kodaly, Orff Schulwerk, Laban Movement Analysis, and vocal pedagogy. Graduates move on to be successful general, choral and instrumental music educators in Missouri and in the states of Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, and often continue their education in successful graduate programs all over the United States.
As of 2019, the BME degree sequence was overhauled to best meet the needs of the 21st century music educator, as well as shorten the time required to complete the degree. Most students are able to complete the BME in nine (9) total semesters.
All music major degree programs have a concert/recital attendance applied learning activity requirement. To complete the degree, the student must attend 12 approved performances each semester for a total of 6 semesters. This is in addition to all coursework for any music major degree. Attendance requirements and an approved listing of concerts/recitals are provided at the beginning of each regular semester.
CONCENTRATIONS
If instrumental music is your passion, you can tailor your music education degree with the concentration that matches your interest.
BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree must participate in one major ensemble each semester with the exception of the student teaching semester. Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree must complete 4 credits in 300-level “Applied Music-Major Instrument” requirements for graduation.
Requires a core of 49 credits in music courses plus additional credits in the area of concentration.
If vocal music is your passion, you can tailor your music education degree with the concentration that matches your interest.
BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN EDUCATION VOCAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the BME-Vocal degree must complete 45 hours in the major core, 17 hours in the concentration, and 33 hours in the professional education sequence. The BME additionally requires passing the Missouri Content Area Assessment in music (MOCA) prior to student teaching.
Music (Bachelor of Music in Education, B.M.E.)
Admission Requirements
- ACT composite score of 20 or higher or successful completion of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA)
- Overall GPA of 2.75
- Education course GPA of 3.0
- Content area GPA of 3.0
- Satisfactory completion of EDU 202/203
*Alternative avenues to Teacher Education available for recruitment of historically under-served populations. Contact the Department Chairperson for guidelines and procedures.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies 1 | ||
| 42-47 | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| MUS 100 | Concert/Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 103 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
| MUS 106 | Basic Keyboard Skills I | 2 |
| MUS 108 | Basic Keyboard Skills II | 2 |
| MUS 115 | Musicianship I | 3 |
| MUS 116 | Musicianship I Lab | 1 |
| MUS 215 | Musicianship II | 3 |
| MUS 216 | Musicianship II Lab | 1 |
| MUS 320 | Elementary Music Methods and Materials | 3 |
| MUS 348 | Music of World Cultures | 1 |
| MUS 363 | History of Western Music II: Romanticism to the 21st Century | 3 |
| MUS 366 | Musicianship III | 3 |
| MUS 367 | Musicianship III Lab | 1 |
| MUS 368 | Musicianship IV | 2 |
| MUS 490 | Senior Recital | 1 |
| or MUS 491 | Senior Recital | |
| MUS 1XX (Applied Lessons) | 3 | |
| MUS 2XX (Applied Lessons) | 1 | |
| MUS 3XX (Applied Lessons - 2 semesters) | 2 | |
| MUS 4XX (Applied Lessons) | 1 | |
| MUS XXX (Large Ensembles) 2 | 5 | |
| MUS XXX (Chamber Ensembles) 2 | 2 | |
| Concentration | ||
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 17-19 | |
Instrumental | ||
Vocal | ||
| Education Professional Sequence | 36 | |
| EDU 150 | Psychological Development for Children & Adolescents for Educators | 3 |
| EDU 202 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| EDU 203 | Participation in Teaching I | 1 |
| EDU 225 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDU 303 | Experience in Teaching II | 2 |
| EDU 304 | Applied Methods and Management | 3 |
| EDU 311 | Secondary Reading Techniques | 3 |
| EDU 315 | Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
| EDU 404 | Seminar in Secondary Education and Human Relations | 3 |
| EDU 409 | Secondary Student Teaching III | 9 |
| 1 | Music majors must taken one of the following: HUM 203 Humanities: Ancient and Medieval, HUM 204 Humanities: Middle Ages to the French Revolution, HUM 205 Humanities: American Revolution to the Present, ENG 210 Approaches to Literature, ART 100 Introduction to Art, or THR 113 Introduction to Theatre for NASM accreditation. |
| 2 | One semester of orchestra and one semester of a jazz ensemble are required. |
Concentrations:
Instrumental
Vocal
Instrumental Concentration
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| MUS 109 | Functional Voice Class | 2 |
| MUS 206 | Keyboard Proficiency for Instrumentalists | 2 |
| MUS 307 | Percussion Methods and Materials | 2 |
| MUS 307 | Percussion Methods and Materials | 2 |
| MUS 325 | Marching Band Techniques | 1 |
| MUS 337 | Brass Methods & Materials | 2 |
| MUS 353 | Woodwind Methods and Materials | 2 |
| MUS 442 | Instrumental Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 468 | Middle and High School Instrumental Methods | 3 |
Vocal Concentration
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| MUS 111 | Functional Instrumental Techniques | 2 |
| MUS 201 | Diction for Singers | 3 |
| MUS 208 | Keyboard Proficiency for Vocalists | 2 |
| MUS 328 | Song and Choral Literature | 2 |
| MUS 334 | Pedagogical Practices: Voice | 1-2 |
| MUS 441 | Choral Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 467 | Middle and High School Choral Methods | 3 |
Additional Teaching Certification
The department strongly recommends additional teaching certification for all BME music majors.
Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree with a Instrumental Concentration may achieve state vocal certification with the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 201 | Diction for Singers | 3 |
| MUS 301 | Advanced Diction for Singers | 2 |
| MUS 328 | Song and Choral Literature | 2 |
| MUS 441 | Choral Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 467 | Middle and High School Choral Methods | 3 |
Candidates for the Bachelor of Music in Education degree with a Vocal Concentration may achieve state instrumental certification with the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 307 | Percussion Methods and Materials | 2 |
| MUS 308 | String Methods and Materials | 2 |
| MUS 337 | Brass Methods & Materials | 2 |
| MUS 353 | Woodwind Methods and Materials | 2 |
| MUS 442 | Instrumental Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 468 | Middle and High School Instrumental Methods | 3 |
Program Graduation Requirements
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.75, a major GPA of 3.0, and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Education courses.
- Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.
Are you ready to declare this major? Download, sign and submit the form(s) to the Music Department.
- Major: B.M.E. Music/Vocal Concentration
- Pre-Major: B.M.E. Music/Vocal Concentration
Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.